red crested pochard – tonydavisonphotography.com

Redwings Brighten up a Grey Day – 12th February 2012

2012, Birds, Birds of 2012, Year No Responses »

Feb 122012

Redwings Brighten up a Grey Day - 12th February 2012

It was a very dull grey and cold morning as we stood on the bridge over-looking the river Derwent at Cromford. Suddenly it felt like spring as a Dipper burst into song and then four birds began staking out their territories and either side of the bridge Dippers were singing. Several Goosander were back on the river and a single Hawfinch put in a very brief appearance before disappearing over distant woodland. Much more snow up in the north as back home it had nearly disappeared. We decided to head back into Derby and spend some time looking […]

Where has all the water gone? – 21st August 2011

2011, Birds, Birds of 2011, Year No Responses »

Aug 212011

Where has all the water gone? - 21st August 2011

The prolonged drought has given rise to Incredibly low levels of water at Carsington Reservoir. The above photo should show the public sailing club with water up to the grass on the left handside!! Not much about bird wise, best bird of note was a drake Red-Crested Pochard. At Willington Gravel Pits, the juvenile Spotted Redshank was still on the canal pit but too far away to photograph. A few butterfly species on the wing – Speckled Wood; Small Tortoiseshell; Red Admiral; Comma; Small Copper; Common Blue; Green-veined White; Small White & Large White. Poppy Heads […]

A Stunning “Gropper” – Sunday, 24 April 2011

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Apr 242011

A Stunning “Gropper” - Sunday, 24 April 2011

It is not every day that one manages to get stunning views of a what is normally a very elusive bird. News of a very showy Grasshopper Warbler at Attenborough local Nature Reserve near Nottingham, we simply had to go along and check it out. What a stunning individual, showing down to less than 10 feet at times. Total disregard for the numerous people trying to photograph it. It was too busy concentrating on stacking out it’s territory and singing away from a favoured song post. A bird that is usually heard and not seen and if one does show, […]

Gulls and Wildfowl – 3rd January & 9th January 2011

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Jan 092011

Gulls and Wildfowl - 3rd January & 9th January 2011

Foremark Reservoir, Derbyshire – 3rd January 2011. The gull roost held a 3rd winter Glaucous Gull and the redhead Smew was still present, also c25 Goosander and 3 adult Yellow-legged Gull also in the roost. Eyebrook Reservoir & Rutland Water, Leicestershire – 9th January 2011 – Both sites are well worth a visit in the early new year. There is usually a good variety of wildfowl often with some good semi-rarities amongst the vast numbers of birds. Today was no exception with highlights as follows:- A Red Kite at Oakham, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Duck & Red-Crested Pochard at Barnsdale, Rutland […]